1969–70 Australian region cyclone season

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	November 8 – November 9
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min);

A weak tropical cyclone, Blossom formed on November 8 to the northwest of Cocos Islands. It dissipated, the next day.

Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 3 – January 9 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min); 996 hPa (mbar)

A tropical low formed on January 3. It soon developed to become Cyclone Diane, before crossing to the South-West Indian Ocean basin on January 9.

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 3 – January 19
Peak intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min); 962 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Ada was a Category 3 cyclone that killed 14 people when it hit Queensland's Whitsunday Island Resorts and the adjacent Whitsunday Coast mainland on January 17, 1970.[1][2]

Resorts and boats were destroyed or severely damaged at Hayman, Daydream and South Molle Islands, as well as the two resorts – Happy Bay and Palm Bay – on Long Island. About 80% of buildings in the mainland centres of Shute Harbour, Airlie Beach and Cannonvale were severely damaged. Some damage occurred also inland at Proserpine where, following 24-hours of heavy rain that accompanied the storm, the Proserpine River peaked at 11.16 metres: its highest recorded flood. Fourteen people died and property damage was estimated at A$390 million (1997 values).[3]

Like Tropical Cyclone Tracy that devastated Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974, Ada was small in diameter (estimated width 30 km) and damage from her path was limited to a comparatively small geographical area. The wind from Tropical Cyclone Ada was not felt in Bowen (60 km to the north) or Mackay (120 km to the south). However, the heavy rains did cause flooding in the Pioneer River (Mackay) and the Don River (Bowen). Before degenerating into a rainstorm Cyclone Ada travelled further inland to the Cathu State Forest (83 km north-west of Mackay behind the small Bruce Highway township of Calen) and caused extensive damage to the eucalypts, rainforest and pine plantations in that area.

It was as a result of complaints about the lack of timely warning about the 1970 cyclone that the Bureau of Meteorology introduced the cyclone warning siren that now accompanies all media broadcasts and telecasts of cyclone warnings in Queensland.

Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	January 27 – February 6
Peak intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min); 970 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Glynis formed on January 27 near the Northern Territory. It moved to the southwest before crossing the coast, near Mandurah, Western Australia. It was last noted on February 6. There were no damages and fatalities reported.[4]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 2 – February 3 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min);

Harriet formed in the western portion of the basin on February 2, strengthening to a tropical storm before moving on the South-West Indian Ocean basin on the next day, where it was renamed Iseult.

Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	February 9 – February 17
Peak intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min); 970 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Ingrid developed on February 9 near Western Australia. It crossed the coast near Carnarvon, Western Australia on an unknown date, causing severe agricultural damage. It was last noted on February 17, to the west-northwest of Perth.[4]

Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	February 9 – February 24
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min); 960 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Judy was first seen on February 9, developing in the central Indian Ocean. Peaking as a Category 1- equivalent hurricane, it executed a small counterclockwise loop before it was last noted on February 24.

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 10 – February 19
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Dawn formed on February 10 in the Gulf of Carpentaria, before moving inland. It moved offshore towards the Coral Sea and continued its westward motion. Then it turned to the south until it was last noted on February 19. It affected the Far North Queensland and New Caledonia with heavy rain.[5]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 10 – February 12
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min); 990 hPa (mbar)

A weak cyclone, Florence developed on February 10 in the Coral Sea. It was last noted, two days later.

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	March 15 – March 20
Peak intensity	35 km/h (25 mph) (1-min); 996 hPa (mbar)

Another tropical cyclone, Cindy formed on March 15 in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It was last seen on March 20.[5]

Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	March 19 – March 25 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity	155 km/h (100 mph) (1-min); 990 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Kathy formed on March 19 in the central Indian Ocean. It moved to the west-southwest before moving on the South-West Indian Ocean basin on March 25, where it was redesignated as Tropical Cyclone Michelle.

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	April 14 – April 19 (exited basin)
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 990 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Isa formed on April 14 near the Solomon Islands. It impacted the island country before it was last noted as it moved out of the basin into the South Pacific basin on April 19.

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	May 4 – May 9
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min); 996 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Lulu formed on May 4 to the west of Port Hedland. It moved to the west before striking Western Australia, near Mundabullangana on May 8. It was last noted near Whim Creek, the next day.

It caused flooding around the Pilbara region; however, it was unknown if there are reports of fatalities attributed to the cyclone.

On November 14, a tropical low formed and lasted until the next day. Another tropical low developed on March 1 and was last noted on March 5.